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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Simultaneous Detection of Different Antibody Classes in a Multiplexed Serological Test
Published on: July 14, 2023
The bactericidal effect of a complement-independent antibody is osmolytic and specific to Borrelia
Timothy J LaRocca1, David J Holthausen, Chyongere Hsieh
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5120, USA.
Abstract:
A complement-independent bactericidal IgG1 against the OspB of Borrelia burgdorferi increased the permeability of the outer membrane through the creation of openings of 2.8 - 4.4 nm, resulting in its osmotic lysis. Cryo-electron microscopy and tomography demonstrated that exposure to the antibody causes the formation of outer membrane projections and large breaks which may precede the increase in permeability of the outer membrane. The bactericidal effect of this antibody is not transferable to Escherichia coli expressing rOspB on its outer membrane. Additionally, the porin P66, the only protein that coprecipitated with OspB, is dispensable for the bactericidal mechanism.
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